Identifying labels



Nov. 24, 1959 W. E. BIHLER IDENTIFYING LABELS Filed Oct. 25, 1957 INVENTOR. WALDEMAR E. BIHLER AGENT F 1C6: Patented Nov. 24, 1959 IDENTIFYING LABELS Waldemar E. Bihler, Stamford, Conn. Application October 25, 1957, Serial No. 692,413

4 Claims. (Cl. 206-56) This invention relates to improvements in identification labels and has particular reference to labels of the type which may be adhesively and removably attached to articles such as electrical leads, tubings, or the like for the purpose of identifying the individual articles.

The presently described label is adapted to be adhesively applied in intimate encircling relation to an article and is provided with an identifying portion which, when the label is used, is covered with an overlying integral transparent protective portion which forms the major portion of the label.

The prior art teaches the use of many various types of means such as labels for identifying the individual com ponents of a group of similar articles such as electrical leads, hydraulic and pneumatic tubings, or other articles which in groups or clusters are normally relatively indistinguishable from one another.

Some prior art types of labels are provided with removable inscribable portions which can easily become accidentally detached and lost. Other types are provided with previously printed inscriptions only and, therefore, can not be provided with selected information to be determined at the time of use and which may also become readily defaced or obliterated. Other types are formed of metal stampings which are relatively expensive and not easily inscribable. Still others are formed of plastic bands which are attachable through the inherent resiliency of the plastic and, consequently, easily accidentally removed. Such metal or plastic labels also are undesirable for the reason that they must be provided in a variety of sizes according to the diameters of the various articles to be identified.

Another prior method of identifying articles is by color marking with paints and dyes. Obviously, this method is not desirable in a great many cases because such color marking is not readily changed, is sometimes difficult to apply, and requires a drying period before the articles can be handled with case. This method is further limiting in that it is subject to the ability of users to distinguish between various colors or shades of colors. Where the articles are to be identified by labels of various colors, this method of identification requires that a multiplicity of labels of all colors must be stocked. Furthermore, many colors tend to be unstable with time, thus creating serious problems with respect to identification of articles after passage of substantial lengths of time.

Few of the commercially available means of identifying articles are adaptable for use on other than a production line basis. Therefore, where articles such as electrical leads, or hydraulic or pneumatic tubings are installed in engineering prototype equipment or in equipment requiring interconnection or assembly at a site of installation, it has been found that means for identifying the articles are either improvised or entirely lacking.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved identification label which embodies an inscribable portion enabling the label to be provided with desired selected information at the time of use and which is protected thereafter, when in posi-' tion of use, from deterioration caused by dus dirt, abrasion, oxidation, or the like.

Another object is to provide a label of the above character which may be adhesively applied to an article in such a manner as to avoid loose flaps, and which may be satisfactorily used on articles of either small or relatively large sizes.

Another object is the provision of a label of the above character which may be easily and relatively inexpensively made in individual, grouped or roll-tape forms.

A further object is to provide a standardized label which does not require stocking in relatively large quantities and which may be inscribed with conventional marking devices.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a roll of tape embodying a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a portion of the tape shown in Fig. 1 illustrating particularly one of the labels comprising a part thereof;

Fig. 3 illustrates the initial step employed in placing an identifying label of the presently described type in position of use;

Fig. 4 shows a label in position of use; and

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of a roll tape having labels incorporated therein.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the preferred form of the label embodying the present invention is shown in roll-tape form in Fig. 1. of transparent material 10 which is provided at predetermined intervals along its length with opaque portions 11. The tape may be of any of the common types of transparent paper or plastic tapes such as, for example, the tape known as Scotch tape. The entire length of the tape 10, including the opaque portions 11, is preferably provided on one side with a pressure-sensitive adhesive whereby the tape may be easily attached to an article such as an electrical lead 12 as shown in Figs. 3

and 4. V

Adjacent one edge of each of the opaque portions 11 the tape 10 is provided with a transversely extending row of perforations 13 whereby individual elongated rectangular-shaped labels 14 may be easily removed from the roll, each of the labels comprising a relatively long transparent portion having at one end an integral, relatively short, opaque, inscribable portion 11. Each inscribable portion or area extends, as shown best in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, from one end edge of the label and along the label for a distance not greater than about one-third the length of the label. Thus the opaque area will not be of a length to cover itself when the label is used.

The opaque areas 11 are provided by any suitable method such as by imprinting the selected areas on the non-adhesive side of the label with a chosen material such as a conventional pigment or dye which will enable the printed areas to be thereafter inscribed with graphite or inks, or by merely roughening the surface by suitable means such as wire brushing, sandblasting, chemical erosion, or other means to remove any high gloss surface. The opaque areas 11 may, if desired, be in different colors which will thus provide a means of identification supplementary to the inscription thereon. For example, in the case of electrical leads the color of an opaque area could refer to a particular circuit while the inscription could refer to a particular terminal in that circuit.

When using the presently described label for identifi- The tape embodies an elongated strip cation, for example, of an individual electrical wire 12 (Figs. 3 and 4) in a group of wires, it is merely necessary to remove a label 14 from the roll by tearing off at a perforation '13, inscribe the desired identification information on the opaque area 11, and then attach to the Wire '12 by first applying the adhesive side of the opaque area to the wire, as shown in Fig. 3 and winding the transparent portion around the wire, as shown in Fig. 4, in such a manner that the transparent portion overlies the inscribed opaque portion and thus provides a protective transparent covering for the inscription, enabling the inscription to be easily read through the transparent covering. The various turns of the tape increase the area of functional adhesive, thus increasing the bond between label and wire without obliterating the inscription.

It is, of course, to be understood that the inscription may be applied to an opaque area 11 before removing the label from the roll, if desired, in which case the roll will advantageously function as a relatively rigid writing surface.

Although the removable labels 14 of tape are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as extending longitudinally of the roll in end-to-end relation, they may be placed in side-byside relation as shown in the roll depicted in Fig. 5. In this modification it is of course necessary that rows of perforations 15 be placed along the side edges of each label for removal of the labels from the roll.

An identification label of the type described may be conveniently applied without the need for special tools or skills. It embodies a means of identification in one standardized form without the necessity of providing a plurality of prefabricated identifying devices in accordance with various requirements of the installation. A secure bond is provided between the label and the article to be identified and at the same time the identifying inscription is protected against abrasion or obliteration. The transparent section 14 can be made to any desired length, thereby permitting one standardized size of labels to be readily applied to a large range of sizes of articles to be identified. The label, furthermore, does not increase the diameter of the article to be identified to any appreciable extent so that assembly or disassembly is not made inconvenient by the presence of the label.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that all of the objects of this invention have been accomplished by the label shown and described. It is to be understood, however, that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. All material shown or described should be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An identifying label for wires and conduits of relatively small diameters, comprising an elongated tape which is flexible throughout its length and which has a coating of transparent adhesive material on one side thereof, said tape having an opaque inscribable area at one end on the side thereof opposite the adhesive material and being entirely transparent throughout the remainder of its length, said inscribable area being a flexible, integral, non-laminated, opaque portion of the tape and extending from one end edge along the tape for a distance not greater than about one-third the length of the tape.

2. An identifying label as set forth in claim 1 wherein the inscribable area is located along one side edge of the tape.

3. An identifying labeling means for Wires and conduits of relatively small diameters, comprising an elongated narrow strip of transparent tape which is flexible throughout its length and which has a coating of adhesive material throughout one side thereof, said tape being provided at spaced intervals throughout its length with transversely extending separation means separating the tape into individual elongated rectangular-shaped labels, each label being provided at one end adjacent a separation means and on the side thereof opposite the adhesive coating with a flexible, non-laminated, opaque inscribable area integral with said tape and extending from said separation means along said label for a distance not greater than about one-third the length of the label.

4. Labeling means as set forth in claim 3 wherein the inscribable area extends continuously along one side edge of the tape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,051,458 Sherman Jan. 28, 1913 2,629,953 Von Stackelberg et al. Mar. 3, 1953 2,797,801 Bishop July 2, 1957 2,812,603 Telsey Nov. 12, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 503,846 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1939 

